Senator and Governor: Montana is the Best Place To Do Business, Create Jobs

(Montana) – Following PayPal’s decision to cancel its expansion plans in North Carolina, Senator Jon Tester and Governor Steve Bullock today invited the multi-billion dollar company to open up shop in Montana.

Tester and Bullock’s letter to PayPal President and CEO Dan Schulman outlined the many reasons why Big Sky Country is best place to do business and create jobs. Highlighting the state’s top-notch business tax climate, western way of life, and talented workforce, the Senator and Governor encouraged the online money transfer business to seriously consider expanding into Montana.

“We were recently ranked the number one state for entrepreneurial activity for the third year in a row,” Tester and Bullock wrote. “Montana's positive business climate fosters growth and promotes innovation. But it’s Montana’s quality of life that truly sets us apart; with safe communities, excellent schools, and unparalleled access to public lands and recreational opportunities, Montana truly is the Last Best Place.”

Tester and Bullock’s invite comes on the heels of a recently passed North Carolina law banning anti-discrimination protections for LGBT individuals.

In PayPal’s decision to cancel its plan to open a new global operations center and create 400 new high-paying jobs in North Carolina, Schulman said, “The new law perpetuates discrimination and it violates the values and principles that are at the core of PayPal’s mission and culture. As a result, PayPal will not move forward with our planned expansion into Charlotte.”

Drawing a stark contrast, Senator Tester and Governor Bullock wrote, “Knowing that our state shares your bedrock values, we encourage you to choose Montana. Doing business in our state is a low-cost venture with an unparalleled quality of life. If you decide to pursue locating operations in Montana, you will have the full support of our offices to make doing business here as easy as possible.”